Catch Me If You Can (The Mancini Way) (14 page)

"Thanks." Why did I feel so crummy for deceiving him all of a sudden? He’s the one into nefarious dealings after all, and it was my job to get to the bottom of those dealings and bring him to justice if need be but suddenly it didn’t feel so right. I felt like a snake which made no sense whatsoever, I’ve never had a problem before so why should I feel this way with this particular man? I was afraid I knew the answer to that one all too well.

Mancini

She's sweating in her seat, it’s probably not very well done of me to bait her like this but the perverse side of me could do no less. I wanted her to regret every moment she spent deceiving me, by the time I had her under me I wanted her willing to put aside everything but the need for me. I will settle for no less, because in the early hours of the morning while I’d stood watch over her bed I’d made a very lasting decision, hard or soft, the woman sitting next to me was mine, I planned to possess her completely and nothing or no one was going to stand in my way.

I didn’t question why I felt so strongly about it, didn’t have to; the instinct that had been leading me my whole adult life was screaming at me that this was it, she was my one. Why that should be I don’t know, after all I’d met less dangerous women in my time, women who weren’t out to put me in a cell and throw away the key. At least it would be something to tell the grandkids somewhere down the line.

Standing over her, wanting to touch her and feeling that pull that was ever present where she was concerned was all the answer I needed to my question of why. Why this woman? It was a cluster fuck for sure, she being who she is, but I’d be damned if I’d let the FBI take anything from me, especially her. No fucking way I haven’t fought them this hard for this long to let them rob me of what might be the most important thing to happen in my life.

“So tell me Cierra how is it that someone as gorgeous and smart as you are is still single?”

“I could say the same of you.”

“Yeah but it’s different for me, we tend to get hitched later in life whereas the female of the species start seeking hearth and home much sooner; so what’s your story?”

“Nothing to tell really I’ve just always been more focused on other things, I guess it’s just not that important to me right now.”

‘I guess that’s understandable, what’re you twenty two twenty three?”

“Almost twenty four.”

Quite young for her current position in the bureau, usually only seasoned veterans held those kind of posts it’s my understanding it took years on the job to even reach Special Agent status and even longer to be termed a ‘profiler’ though the bureau didn’t necessarily use that term. My research so far has shown a higher than usual IQ as well as an aptitude for studying and understanding the human psyche. She was also lauded for her ability to see through the person she was studying; apparently while everyone else saw one thing she saw another. Or at least that had been the fanciful report from one of her old professors. People she’d worked with in the past with the organization she was still a part of that worked to overturn wrongful convictions had nothing but praise and admiration for her.

“So you do see marriage and a family in your future.” Not that it mattered one way or the other, I’m sorry to say but when I decided I wanted something there wasn’t much that would stand in my way of getting it. The fact that we’d just met meant very little to me, I’d made life- threatening decisions in less time. I wasn’t too worried about her thoughts on the matter, again not the most politically correct stand to take but she’d brought herself into my orbit, she shouldn’t be too surprised to find herself scorched by the fire.

Chapter 15

The water was calm and serene as we headed out. I think she was still in awe of the beauty of the vessel, and it was a thing of beauty if I do say so myself, my pride and joy or one of many.

“Let me show you around shall I?”

“Sounds good, this is amazing, do you usually just take a yacht out on the water for a day out? I would think these were for longer voyages or something.”

“That’s the beauty of ownership, you can do as you please with what’s yours.”

She tilted her head at me, those eyes of hers burning into me, did she have any idea how much I wanted to fuck her right his minute? The only thing keeping me human is the fact that I had not yet ascertained how I was going to handle her deception; do I let her know that I knew who she was, or do I let the farce play out until they realized they couldn’t catch me? Whatever decision I came to will have to be soon because it wasn’t going to be long before the need to have her under me, to be buried deep inside her overruled everything else.

I showed her around the five hundred and sixty foot vessel with its library, water jets a private cinema and garden among other things. She was quiet the whole time as she followed me from room to room until we reached the six thousand square feet master suite on the topmost deck. Everything had been glossed to a high shine and I enjoyed her reactions as if seeing the place for the first time through her eyes.

“It’s truly amazing, really.” She ran her hand along the polished teak of the rail as we made our way back below. I’d been on the lookout for her colleagues and hadn’t been able to find their location as yet.  My yacht was highly secured, bullet and bombproof and according to where we were on the vessel, there were security shields in place to keep us hidden if need be.

“Would you like some breakfast beauty? I know I got you up rather early and it’s going to be a long time ‘til lunch so if you’d like I can wrestle you up an omelet in the galley.”

“You cook?”

“Of course, I’m an excellent cook.”

“Fine I’ll take you up on that offer since you did get me up so early.”

She seemed relaxed as she followed me down I sat her at the island before kissing the crown of her head which seemed almost natural. I meant to use today as part of my campaign to break down her defenses, first I planned on getting her use to my touch, soft touches throughout the day and more stolen kisses. That kiss had blown me away, it had ben sweet and hot and everything I’d been imagining all morning; I hadn’t known I was going to do it though, had anticipated waiting until I’d had her cornered on the yacht before making that first move but she had looked so good standing there, her hair pulled back with a scarf that matched the top she wore, her lips glossed, no makeup that I could see except maybe for a dusting of powder or whatever the hell it was that women wore these days. She had an air of innocence about her that I only noticed when I wasn’t thinking of the special agent. When she’d opened the door my mind had still been on what she’d looked like when I slipped out of her bedroom this morning so she’d caught me completely off guard.

I chopped some vegetables for her omelet as I boiled the water to make her some tea, I’d noted the brand she favored the night before and was lucky enough to find some in one of those high end overly expensive all night markets in the city. When I placed the cup in front of her I saw her face light up in surprise.

“How did you know?”

“You ordered it last night.”

I went back to chopping as she sipped my mind wandering for the time being to her job, I knew from the eyes and ears I’d placed in her place that they suspected me of doing something on the night of the rescue but once again they had no clue where to turn. The inquiry into the car explosion had come up empty and it was ruled an accident; the arrests of the other players were already under way and I’m sure they might eventually be able to put the pieces together but by then it would be too late, besides what were they going to say?

We were still working on the girls’ families doing last minute checks to make doubly sure that they weren’t going back into danger, I still had one more thing left to do there and it was proving difficult. So far none of the girls were able to give an accurate description of the ones who’d taken them, which was of great concern to us. Before we could send them back we had to eliminate the danger and we couldn’t if we didn’t know what we were looking for.

I’d tried to ascertain who it could be by using my contacts in that part of the world without much luck, believe it or not trafficking of young girls was not as rare as some might think. Families have been known to sell their children for a profit so it was for me the most delicate part of the operation. Rescuing them had been the easy part, keeping them safe was a whole other story and I knew that when the few days that I’d begged off was at an end I will have to leave her and head to the orient whether we found something or not, sometimes it was better to have your ear to the ground you learned more that way.

“Are you angry at the onion?”

Her question brought me back to the present and I smiled at her teasing tone.

 “No why do you ask that?”

 “You were scowling at it that’s all.”

‘Nope, had something on my mind.”

 “Oh, am I keeping you from something?”

‘No beauty, I invited you remember?”

“I know but something might’ve come up I’d totally understand.”

Was she fishing or did she genuinely think something had come up? I was more inclined to believe the former, as my beauty seemed to be very efficient at keeping her mind on her job. Yet another thing to punish her for later, my cock twitched at the thought.

I poured the egg mix over the simmering vegetables in the pan and adjusted the heat.

“Nothing’s come up, and besides if something had I still wouldn’t have cancelled I’m looking forward to spending the day with you doing one of the things I love most.”

I turned back to the stove and flipped her omelet over before putting a couple slices of bread in the toaster.

When it was all ready I placed everything neatly on a plate and took it over to her.

“Wow this looks and smells amazing.” She smiled up at me and I couldn’t help it, I lowered my head and once again kissed her beautiful lips. This kiss was even more heated than the first, my mouth knew the treat it was in for this tine and went in search of her tongue, I played with it running mine over it drawing it into my mouth and sucking on her gently. I had her almost all the way off the stool and in my arms her body held tight against mine as I fought not to fuck her right there in the galley of my ship.

I pulled away with soft kisses across the bridge of her nose and her eyes.

“Eat before it gets cold.”

She sat quietly for a moment before picking up her fork and digging in.

Her eyes closed in pleasure after the first bite and she made appreciative noises in her throat.

“Thanks Hank this is good.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Aren’t you having any?”

“Nope, not really a breakfast person.” I waved the cup of coffee I held in my hand towards her.

“This is as much as I have in the mornings.”

She wiped her mouth with one corner of the cloth napkin I’d laid next to her plate before looking at me again.

“I can’t seem to get a handle on you, Mr. Mancini.”

“Oh yeah why is that?”

“I don’t know you seem like such an enigma, supposedly you’re this hardcore player with not a care in the world, but here you have this fantastic hidden skill, you’re rather courteous when you’re not trying to be shocking.” She shrugged her shoulders.

“I don’t know nothing seems to fit.”

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out beauty.”

Up on deck it seemed like the most natural thing to stand behind her with my hands over hers as I taught her how to man the ship. There was shared laughter and lightness almost as if she’ forgotten that I was a job, that she was supposed to be gathering information on me and I stopped waiting for her to try catching me out there. All in all it was a beautiful day spent with an amazing woman that stole herself deeper and deeper into my heart as the time went by. By the time it was time to return I had been convinced that she was the one who would indeed sit next to me at Juliet Mancini’s dinner table. My problem now was ending the game, did I come right out and tell her that I knew who she was or do I wait for her to tell me? And would that day ever come?

“I want to see you again soon.”

I had her backed up against the same wall as this morning, my hands holding her face up to mine as I kissed her forehead, her cheeks every place I could find, without waiting for an answer I took her mouth with mine pulling her body close letting her feel my need for her. She melted into me her arms coming up and around me as she gave herself over to me.

When I needed air I picked my head up and looked down into her eyes.

“I know you have an issue with my bluntness as you put it, but I think I should warn you, I’m going to take you soon, if you don’t want that you should stay away from me and even then I’m not sure I would let you go.” I took one of her hands and led it down to my stiff cock, which was beginning to hurt like fuck.

“Feel what you do to me.” She looked up at me a little warily, no doubt wondering how she was going to pull this off, she had a job to do and I’d just told her in essence that if she wanted to do that job she’d have to let me fuck her. I wasn’t too torn up about it though.

I left her after stealing another kiss. I felt lighter somehow having gotten that off my chest. At least it was out there, now she had to think about it. I was almost certain that she wouldn’t fuck me to further her agenda so I felt sure that if or when she came to my bed she would be there because she wanted to be there.

Cierra

I was a ball of confusion after he left, my nerves were shot and I had butterflies in the pit of my stomach; why would he throw me a curve ball like that? And better yet how the hell was I supposed to handle it? I’ve worked really hard to get where I am, could I risk throwing it all away for what might be nothing more than a fling? I know I didn’t believe him guilty of the crimes we suspected so as a woman I had no guilt there but as an agent tasked with a job would it be unethical to go there with him? I wish I knew the answers to my questions.